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Housing and Public Works Minister Tim Mander said on Saturday that 10 new category-five cyclone shelters are ready for use if the storm does comes east.

The shelters, each of which can provide secure accommodation for up to 800 people, are in Townsville, Ingham, Proserpine and Bowen Mackay, Cairns, Innisfail, Cooktown, Port Douglas, Tully, Weipa and Yeppoon.

"We've already had more than enough wild weather this year, but if Sandra does cross the coast we will be ready for it," Mr Mander said in a statement.

Sandra is the seventh cyclone to form in the Australian region during the 2012-13 season, which runs from November to the end of April.